Nick Foles: Updated Fantasy Outlook & Analysis for Eagles QB

Given a start in Week 11 and the long-term potential of being the Philadelphia Eagles starter for the rest of the season, rookie quarterback Nick Foles has legitimate fantasy value.

In fact, Foles may be a border-line starter in deeper leagues against the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Friday that the Eagles will in fact start Foles, who replaced Michael Vick in Week 10 after the former starter left with a concussion in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys. Foles completed 22 of 32 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown in relief, although the Eagles stumbled down the stretch and fell to 3-6 for the season.

Foles (owned in 7.2 percent of ESPN leagues) now faces one of fantasy football's worst defenses in Week 11.

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Foles will make his first NFL start Sunday.

Washington is the 30th ranked defense in the NFL in allowing points to fantasy quarterbacks this season. Quarterbacks are averaging 19.0 points a game, including 20.5 over the last two games.

The Redskins are also allowing over 300 passing yards a game, one of just three teams (Tampa Bay, New Orleans) currently doing so in 2012.

And while the Eagles offensive line may not be in better shape, at least one NFL observer and one Eagles source believes that having Foles in the lineup over Vick gives the Philadelphia passing offense a boost.

Adam Caplan, an analyst at the Sideline Report and the Eagles' official site, said that in watching his limited game film, Folesshowedpre-snap awareness, creation of space inside the pocket and a downfield focus that bettered Vick in each area.

A source from the Eagles held a similar view, according to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports.

He has a feel for where everything was coming from, and he was athletic enough to get away from the rush a lot of the time. He hurried a few things, but he didn't look flustered. You could see that he knew right away what the mistakes were and had an idea about how to fix them.

The offensive play-calling may also open up, according to the same source.

You can run all the timing routes and throws to spots that you want, but it helps when the quarterback can see it for himself. We have always had the issue with [Vick] about seeing the play and trusting it. It's just something you have to deal with as a player and as a coaching staff. With Foles, maybe that gets easier.

If the two are right, Foles could be in for a surprising game against the Redskins on Sunday. ESPN is currently projecting 12 fantasy points (204 yards, one touchdown), but there's enough evidence to think Foles could eclipse that conservative projection.

Foles is the No. 18 quarterback for Week 11 at ESPN.

Will Nick Foles be the starter in Philadelphia for the remainder of the 2012 season?

YesNoSubmit Votevote to see results

Will Nick Foles be the starter in Philadelphia for the remainder of the 2012 season?

Yes

82.5%

No

17.5%

Total votes: 160

Another solid showing from Foles may open the doors for the 6'6" rookie quarterback to be the Eagles' starter the rest of the season. That could be good news for Foles' overall fantasy stock.

After Washington, and if Vick's health doesn't improve, Foles would face Carolina, Tampa Bay, Washington and New York—each in the lower half of fantasy defenses against quarterbacks—down the stretch.

Overall, you could do a lot worse at quarterback on the fantasy waiver wire this week than Foles. The matchup is a plus, and many NFL minds think Foles has what it takes to improve on what Vick brought the Eagles.

There are many wild cards, but Foles has legitimate fantasy value for the Eagles both on Sunday and over the final stretch of games in 2012.